Colonials Begin Practice at Indoor Regency Sport and Health Club

WASHINGTON- The George Washington men's tennis team started preparation for its competitive spring slate on Monday as the Colonials kicked off 2013 practice at the indoor Regency Sport and Health Club in McClean, Va.

GW, the two-time defending Atlantic 10 champion, enters the spring season with two nationally ranked top-100 players for the first time in Coach Greg Munoz's tenure. Sophomore Francisco Dias and junior transfer Nikita Fomin have debuted at Nos. 76 and 96, respectively, on the first Campbell/Intercollegiate Tennis association (ITA) Division I Men's National Singles Rankings of the spring season.

"We are really excited to get back to work and start preparing for what will be our toughest schedule to date," said Coach Munoz. "This is the strongest team we have ever put together and everyone is looking forward to dual-match competition."

"We wanted to crack the top-75 last year and we came up short," said Coach Munoz. "We have the expectation this season that we will break into the rankings. Everyone has been working hard and we expect them to continue to push themselves in every practice and match."

GW opens 2013 with an immediate test when the Colonials welcome Cornell - which finished last season with a No. 70 national ranking - to the Army Navy Country Club at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26.